It is with remarkable lucidity, that throughout this volume, the subject of which is largely obscure is founded, even though to a great extent, upon mere theory.
Theosophy is not a branch in anywise known, or even investigated by the layman. The vast majority of persons meet all advances made in the line of spiritual illumination with jeers and scoffing. So adhered to timeworn doctrines and world-old popular traditions are the average man and woman that they look upon the theosophist much as a savage looks upon a missionary.
To many persons the subject has no interest whatsoever. They do not believe in such nonsense, is their first, last and only comment. On the other hand, to the dogmatically religious person the subject appears supremely sacrilegious and the expounder is regarded as a thief trying to carry off a priceless treasure.
In all truth, theosophy has more of sense and plausibility in it than have many theological teachings. In the last, the veil of superstition is often present to obscure the greatest beauties and the real simplicity, in the first the veil is rent and things appear more as they truly are.
C. W.Leadbeater has treated the matter in a most advantageous way. He is scientific without being wearisomely technical, he is learned without being dry. He has arranged his study as a guide to the aspirant as yet on the threshold of the field, or at least only a short space advanced; he does not pretend to teach the power of clairvoyance or show how an endowment of the spiritual sight may be obtained. He presumes upon the faculty being present, and yet presumes in a manner that does not exclude such to whom no such endowment exists, and in a way that leaves what he says for the most part comprehensible to both possessor and non-possessor of the gift. He analyzes man, not man as he appears in the flesh, but man as he exists in the invisibility that is visible thus far to only a few.
